Ribbon and Leviathan are playing in the snow.
They sit together on the couch, fire sparking in its place as Ribbon lays
curled before it. Leviathan watches it burn, knees drawn to his chest.
They chase each other in the snow, catching for each other's tails. They
tumble and Ribbon lands atop, smiling down.
They explore the woods together, taking long walks out in the night. Out
past Ribbon's copse they find an old house with broken windows and an open
door.
Its black insides call to them. Leviathan holds his arms and glances behind
him while Ribbon pokes his nose inside.
Snow lines furniture, cracked and decaying. A cabinet door hangs on one
hinge. A rusty old pump sits illuminated under the kitchen window. Ribbon slinks
over and fiddles with it, jumping back in surprise when water bursts forth.
Leviathan opens a drawer, swollen wood squeaking as he tugs. Inside he
finds a single playing card. He sets down on the steps to look at its patterns, its
huge heart face. Staring into the designs he glazes over until Ribbon snaps him to,
beckoning him into the other room.
An upright piano sits alone under a sheet. The bench creaks under them,
and the notes are out of key. Leviathan prods a note and its discordant tone
hangs in the air.
Cracking his knuckles silently, he plays a d minor scale. Ribbon mimes
clapping and paws eagerly at the keys. He climbs up the scale but sounds a B
and Leviathan shakes his head, pointing to Bb instead.
Ribbon prefers the higher notes, so they switch places. Leviathan plays a
deep triad and he tries to note over it. Eventually he finds a tune he is comfy with,
and Leviathan inverts his chords to match its airy tone.
Music fills the air, pulsing. Its beat fills the quite air and the stars seem to
glaze over.
They chase each other in the snow, catching for each other's tails.
Leviathan falls forward, setting up slowly with eyes wide. The black fur of his paw
stains red, drips falling forward. He holds it to himself, sniffing softly.
They play together, Ribbon gaining confidence as his digits fit to
Leviathan's deep chords. Ribbon's song dances upon tremors far below, light
and pattering like snow against his window. They enter flow together, losing
themselves in their music.
Inside Ribbon reaches for Leviathan's paw. He flinches, holding it close to
his heart before tentatively offering it forward. Ribbon licks the wound, lapping
blood from deep inside.
The thick textured notes coat the air, flowing out of them through arteries.
They breathe in time, mirroring each other's movements.
They chase each other in the snow, Leviathan with bandaged paw. They
tumble and Ribbon lands atop, smiling down.
They stop together, breathing. Their ears ring adjusting to the silence. Wind
meanders through the eaves of trees and broken windows, kissing at their cheeks.
Ribbon sets up smiling and sets to explore the rest of the house.
At home Leviathan places the Ace of Hearts on a shelf. Ribbon yawns and
stretches out exhausted. Curling up on his bed, he sleeps quickly and leaves
Leviathan to his own devices.
He walks outside, watching always the horizon, making his way towards
the copse. He lapses, checking about him before laying in the snow. Trying to
relax he opens his heart to the stars above.
Voices light behind his ears. Whispers inaudible like the tumbling of snow.
White noise and static in his eyes. Words cut in and out in half syllables, tongues
making movements impossible.
Eyes glazed over he explores this place, dark hallways twisting separating
coming together. Deeper into an unbeating heart he treads, so little light
reflected in his cobalt eyes. Voices gain cacophony, their murmur spilling from a
wound unknowable.
A whimper calling in the darkness just ahead. Mewling barely audible over
the locust swarm. Leviathan reaches forward but feels nothing but rigid walls
closing in and out again.
He stumbles, a slight headache, checking behind him. Only oppressive
darkness, words pouring unto him in splatters. He runs now, breathing quickly, fur
raised, joints tense. They chase him through those dark hallways until his feet
touch water.
He sits up, a scream built in his throat. Eyes wide panting he holds his heart,
calling out for help within his chest. His shoulders heave and with them fallen
snow.
Ribbon is still asleep when he gets home, knees weak, collapsing on the
couch. His shaken body lapses exhausted, his head resting on a couch cushion.
Before nodding off he sets up alert and closes the curtains, locking the door.
Retaking his place on the couch, he curls tight unto himself and huffs into
his paws, letting the fire lap the cold from him.
Chapter 3 of Ribbon and Leviathan
Having met and befriended Leviathan, the two go out exploring in the woods, and find an abandoned house.
Along with the influence from Winnie the Pooh and House of Leaves, this chapter also takes heavy inspiration from Baudelaire's "La Fontaine de Sang"